The zero-waste lifestyle Live well by throwing away less

Amy Korst, 1984-

Book - 2012

"A practical guide to generating less waste, featuring meaningful and achievable strategies from the blogger behind The Green Garbage Project, a yearlong experiment in living garbage-free. You don't have to be a tree hugger to benefit from zero-waste living. The average American tosses out nearly five pounds of trash every day, yet studies show the more we buy, the less happy we are. In The Zero-Waste Lifestyle, Amy Korst shows us how to have a happier, healthier, more sustainable life by sharing the lessons she learned while going waste-free for an entire year. Each chapter presents easy steps that anyone can take to create less trash: from composting and retaking reusable containers to the grocery store to burning clean organic ...materials; upcycling, downcycling, and recycling goods; and more"--

Saved in:

2nd Floor Show me where

640/Korst
1 / 1 copies available
Location Call Number   Status
2nd Floor 640/Korst Checked In
Subjects
Published
Berkeley, CA : Ten Speed Press [2012]
Language
English
Main Author
Amy Korst, 1984- (author)
Edition
First edition
Physical Description
ix, 262 pages. ; 24 cm
Bibliography
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN
9781607743484
  • Acknowledgments
  • Foreword
  • Introduction: Trash, Trash, Everywhere
  • Part 1. Getting Started
  • 1. A Trashed Planet
  • 2. Planning to Go Waste Free
  • 3. Reduce and Reuse
  • 4. Recycle
  • 5. Organic Waste
  • Part 2. Trash-Free Challenges
  • 6. The Zero-Waste Kitchen
  • 7. The Zero-Waste Bathroom
  • 8. The Zero-Waste Bedroom
  • 9. Zero-Waste Cleaning
  • 10. Zero-Waste Kids
  • 11. Zero-Waste Travel
  • 12. The Zero-Waste Workplace
  • 13. Zero-Waste Holidays and Special Occasions
  • Part 3. Next Steps
  • 14. The Global Zero-Waste Movement
  • Epilogue
  • An A-to-Z Guide to Recycling (Just About) Anything
  • Further Reading
  • Bibliography
  • About the Author
  • Index
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review

Korst, a pioneer-minded young blogger whose "Green Garbage Project" allowed her to fit an entire year's garbage into a single shoebox, shares her ways with readers eager to make less of an impact on the earth. Her tips range from homemade toothpaste and deodorant recipes, to straightforward lists of single-serve and disposable products one can easily go without, to a waste audit strategy, shopping checklist, and complete recycling system. The book is a reminder of our problematic consumption and consumerism habits and contains some fantastic self-interventions. Each chapter is followed by an overview of tasks one can do to meet the goals outlined in the chapter. Korst's tips will save lots and lots of money, and this is a principle many will be able to get behind as much as the "green" aspect. While her recipes are simple, and by no means unique to these pages, their value lies in the inspiration of freeing oneself from plastic bottles and containers. Korst may suggest seemingly wild ideas like growing your own loofah sponges and composting used condoms in a homemade worm bin, but she also demonstrates ingenuity and creativity in sharing many very simple ways we can all help save the earth. (Jan) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.


So What Exactly Does "Trash Free" Mean? Trash-free living means different things to different people, as you'll see throughout this book. For some families, a trash-less life might mean moving from filling a giant, 64-gallon garbage can a week to filling a 32-gallon garbage can once a month. To others, it might mean a small grocery sack of garbage a week. To still others, going trash free means sending absolutely nothing to the landfill at all. I fall into this last category. For the year of our Green Garbage Project, Adam and I tried to make absolutely no garbage. We came awfully close to our goal--by the end of the year, all our trash fit inside a regular shoebox. Surprisingly, we found that once we had a system in place for purchasing goods and recycling packaging, trash-free living became second nature. So, whether you're interested in moderate or extreme trash reduction, whether you want to simply pare down your army of trash cans or try to produce zero garbage in a year, I can show you how to do it. Benefits of a Trash-free Life Although the obvious benefits of producing no garbage are environmental, they don't stop there. In addition to reducing your impact on the planet, here are some other benefits of your new zero-waste lifestyle: Your life just got a whole lot simpler: We all wish we had a little more time in the day. Trash-free living helps streamline many areas of your life, from grocery shopping to cleaning the house. You'll learn to repurpose everyday products like baking soda and lemon juice to do double duty, in the kitchen and in the cleaning bucket. You'll spend less time at the store and more time at home with family and friends. You will spend less money and be happier with your purchases: When I started paying attention to my purchases, I realized I was buying a lot of things I wanted but didn't need. Going trash-free means becoming much more conscientious about your purchases. You'll deliberately buy items that can serve dual purposes, and you'll look for durable goods that last a long time before breaking. You will support local businesses: Shopping locally benefits the environment, because goods are not trucked all over the country for consumption. Equally important is the impact you can have on your local community when you support family-owned establishments instead of big corporations. Studies show that "three times as much money stays in the local economy when you buy goods and services from locally owned businesses instead of large chain stores," according to the Institute for Local Self-Reliance. You will eat healthier: And if you pair that with some good exercise, you'll lose weight and feel better. Cutting out garbage means eating more whole foods that don't come overpackaged in plastic. You'll shop the periphery of the grocery store and frequent local farmers' markets, buying good-for-you foods like fruits and veggies and locally sourced meat, dairy, and eggs. You'll be doing your part to preserve the planet for future generations: It's no secret the earth is in trouble. Landfills are overflowing, our water systems are becoming polluted, animal species are becoming endangered and going extinct at an alarming rate, and we are finding toxic chemicals in our food and beauty products. This book will show you how trash is connected to each of these environmental problems and more. Every time you choose sustainable over throwaway, you're doing your part to eliminate these problems. Your efforts will help beautify natural areas and decrease littering: Have you ever been hiking in the wilderness or making a sandcastle at the beach, only to have a piece of garbage flutter across your path? Seen someone toss a cigarette butt out the car window? The less garbage we make collectively, the less litter there will be to spoil nature's beauty. You will reduce your exposure to toxic chemicals and artificial colors and sweeteners: A garbage-free life means you'll choose healthier options than the prepackaged, processed foods that line the grocery store shelves. We know food-like substances like Pop-Tarts and Cheetos aren't good for us--avoiding the garbage is just one more reason to look for healthier alternatives. You'll become more self-sufficient: One of the most enjoyable parts of a garbage-free life is learning some skills our culture has all but forgotten. Pretty much anything store-bought can be made at home, if you have the time and interest. This book includes simple recipes for everyday products like English muffins and all-purpose cleaning spray as well as advanced recipes for ricotta cheese and bagels, among others. For these reasons and more, people across the country--and around the world--are already living trash free. All of us are devoted to the lifestyle because we've found it to be easy and rewarding. As with any new experience, Adam and I encountered some pitfalls along the way, but we have learned from our mistakes and are here to offer our stories to help you transition into this wonderful lifestyle more easily. One thing you'll discover is that living trash free has its regional variations and challenges, because each part of the country has different programs established for recycling, composting, and bulk food shopping. You'll discover, too, that each family circumstance presents its own set of unique challenges when working toward a trash-free lifestyle. This book gives you strategies for finding and using the systems established in your area. Whatever your particular circumstances or challenges are, you will find that adopting a zero-waste lifestyle is doable--and infinitely rewarding. Excerpted from The Zero-Waste Lifestyle: Live Well by Throwing Away Less by Amy Korst All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.